The History of Candles The evolution of the candle was a story of materials. For centuries, most Europeans relied on tallow—rendered animal fat—which produced a smoky, foul-smelling light. Only religious institutions and the very wealthy could afford clean-burning, sweet-smelling beeswax candles. Early American colonists discovered that boiling bayberries yielded a fragrant wax, but the process was incredibly difficult and labor-intensive. (candles.org) A significant improvement came from the wh